Questions to ask at the initial consultation:

 Fo

r Bailey & Poague's answers, "mouse over" our logo.  

 

 

General

Do you practice family law exclusively?      Yes. We practice family law exclusively.

          

How many divorce cases have you handled during that time?    The attorneys at Bailey and Poague have handled nearly 400 divorce, divorce modification, and custody cases and approximately 400 juvenile dependency cases.

         

Of the divorces you have dealt with, how many cases went to trial?    At Bailey and Poague we always seek an amicable settlement even when preparing for trial. We are able to settle approximately 90% of our divorce cases.

         

Are you taking on any new clients right now?     At Bailey & Poague we limit the number of open cases to ensure we can effectively serve our current clients. At this time we can still accept a limited number of new clients.

         

 

 

How My Case Will be Handled

Will other members of your firm, such as associate lawyers, be working on my divorce?    No. Bailey and Poague, LLC does not employ associate lawyers. Your case will be handled by one of the partners, not an associate. 

 

How much of the work on my file would be assigned to other members of the firm?    Occasionally routine administrative tasks will be handled by our administrative staff. Those tasks will be billed at a much lower rate.

 

Will you be handling negotiations with my spouse's attorney?     Yes.

 

  Attorney-Client Communication

 

Will you be available by phone or email if I have questions?     Yes. We try to return all calls the same day received. We can be reached by phone and email.

 

What is your policy regarding a time frame for returning calls or responding to email?      We try to return all calls the same day they are received. Usually calls are returned between 11:00 a.m. and noon and between 4:00 and 5:00 p.m.

 

What are your normal office hours?     7:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 7:30 a.m. to noon on Friday.

 

Do you have an answering service if something comes up outside of normal business hours?    For after hours emergencies we can be reached by e-mail.

 

Will I receive copies of all incoming and outgoing correspondence in my case?    Yes.

 

Will you provide me with copies of all court documents received or prepared on my behalf?     Yes.

 

   

Legal Fees

 

What is your normal billing rate?     Our attorneys bill at $250.00 per hourand the legal assistants bill at $75.00 per hour. Some matters, such as uncontested divorces, are billed at a flat rate of $795.00.

 

Do you require new clients to pay a retainer before working on the case? If so, how much?     Yes. Retainers vary according to the complexity of the individual case.

 

Do you charge a separate fee for going to court? If so, what is the daily rate?     There is no separate fee for going to court. All work is billed at our normal hourly rate.

 

Can I get the billing arrangement in writing?     Yes. We insist on a written agreement.

 

Will you let me know at the end of each month how much of the retainer has been spent?     Yes. We provide invoices every 2-3 weeks to ensure our clients are fully aware of the work being performed and the fees being incurred. No one likes or wants surprises!

 

What other costs, other than legal fees, will I be responsible for paying? (Your lawyer will charge extra for expenses like court filing fees, process server fees, postage, etc.)     Our clients are responsible for paying the actual amount of any fees or costs that are necessary for their case. These include court filing fees, process server fees, deposition transcript fees, etc. We do not charge for routine administrative costs such as postage, fax fees, or mileage.

 

Will I be charged for phone calls?      All of the time spent on your case is subject to billing. However, there are often many short, informational phone calls that may not be billed.

 

Do you bill a minimum amount for phone calls or time spent working on the file? (Some lawyers bill in increments of 10, 15,or 20-minute intervals, even when the time spent is actually less.)     We bill in increments of 1/10 of an hour (six minutes).

 

 

General Questions About Strategy

 

Will you discuss my options and allow me to give you instructions about how I want my case handled?     Yes. We will provide you with options and advice, but the final determination is always yours. We work for you - not the other way around.

 

Will you keep me informed about all developments with my case?     Yes. All correspondence or documents received from the other side or the court will be forwarded to you. Also, we are usually reachable by e-mail at any time if there is an emergency.

 

Can you give me an idea of how much my case will cost?      During the initial interview, we will try to give you an estimate of the expected total cost. However, the total cost can vary greatly depending on the parties' willingness to cooperate as well as the opposing attorney's desire to litigate every aspect of the case.